The show features JoAnn and Steve as they work their matchmaking magic on a new batch of singles who have issues finding their Mr. Right. This season promises a man hater, a man eater, a lover of deadbeats, and a very awkward virgin! Wouldn’t it be hilarious if they were all the same person?

It appears that the mother-son dream team will have some pretty difficult cases this time around, and I, for one, can’t wait to see how they handle this bunch. Meet the ladies in desperate need of tough love below!

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE LADIES OF THIS SEASON’S TOUGH LOVE? WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE HARDEST WOMAN TO DEAL WITH FOR STEVE AND JOANN?

In fact, the engaged duo made their first red carpet appearance last night as a couple. And speaking to UsWeekly, the two insist their love is still as strong as ever.

While Ben, 29, has been dogged by cheating reports and photos in the last few weeks, he tells UsWeekly he and Courtney, 28, are finally settling into normal life. “It’s getting close,” said Ben. “Now that the show’s over and the star’s fading . . . [it’s] wonderful for us.” Courtney adds, “We’re getting there.”

The big question on everyone’s mind, of course, is if they are still planning to tie the knot. “No date set,” admitted Courtney. “We’re engaged, dating, taking it slow. We love each other very much. It took the pressure off. “

Ben adds: “We kind of looked back at some of the other Bachelor relationships that didn’t work out and the reason for that is you have so much pressure to move in together and set a date and all this kind of stuff . . . Let’s figure out who we are together before we do any of that and take the pressure off.” Makes sense!

If the couple does ever make it down the aisle, they plan to have their wedding in “Arizona or California somewhere,” according to Ben. By the way – no Bachelor in the history of the ABC series has ever wed the woman they picked.

Moving on to BacheloretteEmily Maynard, 25, who is currently filming her upcoming season in her home state of North Carolina, as well as other exotic locations. ABC has now released Emily’s first official photo as the Bachelorette! That pic is below. Her season is expected to air during late Spring.

[Photo Credit: Daniel Tanner/ WENN.com]

TELL US – THOUGHTS ON BEN & COURTNEY’S INTERVIEW? DO YOU EVER SEE THEM MAKING IT DOWN THE AISLE?

And then there were eight. We’re jumping in to covering American Idol, which is awesome for me because 1) I love it; and 2) but for recapping the elimination show, I’d likely be reminded of my Pauly D and Vinny Thursday night withdrawals. The show begins as it should…Randy Jackson is smooth, dawg, Steven Tyler is swathed in an excessive amount of man scarves, and JLo is sporting an outfit I would have killed for back when I was in middle school – and mind you, that was in the late 80’s.

The show opens with the always suave and debonairly coiffed Ryan Seacrest promoting Aerosmith’s upcoming tour. The remaining nine singers are shown the celebrity tweets, which tout their favorite idols of the season. Carrie Underwood, Lifehouse, and Mariah Carey all show some love for those who chose their songs. Poor DeAndreBrackensick didn’t receive any such tweets after his performance of Eric Benet’s “Sometimes I Cry” (sidebar…I’m so excited to be recapping the AI because all season I’ve wanted to hear from y’all how much he reminds you of former contestant Jason Castro). Instead, DeAndre gets a personal visit from Eric Benet. He’s moved to tears, Ryan is excited to have Eric grace the stage, and somewhere Halle Berry is flaunting her engagement ring at her television screen while Olivier Martinez chides his future bride about being married to such a d-bag. Did I digress too much?

Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odomseemed like a happy couple, totally in love, and pretty blasé about being in the reality television spotlight despite their hit show Khloe & Lamar. Unfortunately, ever since their relocation to Dallas, they have been plagued by divorce rumors and accusations of famewhoring.

Well, it appears the couple may be closer to divorce than ever, with multiple media outlets revealing that things are very rocky between the formerly happy couple, whom friends report are at the “point of no return” in their marriage!

Allegedly, Lamar’s raunchy visit to a strip club with teammates in January has been a continued sore spot for the couple, whose fertility issues are well-known. “Khloe viewed his actions as cheating,” a source tells Star Magazine. “She felt violated.” Lamar and some of his teammates visited Washington DC’s Stadium Club and he was seen handing over 500 $1 dollar bills to strippers.

To make matters worse, their sex life has become redundant and purely focused on baby-making. “Lamar is getting tired of her obsessing over [having a baby],” the source reveals. “They’re only intimate now when they schedule sex.”

The most troubling issue for the couple, is Lamar’s depression over moving to Dallas. Reportedly, both of them are unhappy in their new city and it is putting serious pressure on their marriage. Adding to the issues, is of course, Lamar’s on-court problems. “Khloe put on a brave face and prayed that a new beginning in Dallas would be good for their marriage,” the source continues. “Sadly things have only gotten worse. Lamar is super depressed and Khloe is really having trouble handling his emotional issues.”

Another issue plaguing the couple, is that they’re now spending more time together than ever! “One of the main reasons the relationship is having trouble, which in turn is also hurting his game, is they are spending more time with each other,” a source shares with HollywoodLife.

“When Lamar was in Los Angeles, she was distracted with her family and Hollywood outings with friends and work. He could devote his time with the Lakers and doing his own thing. But they are now both fish out of water in Dallas and there are less outlets to get away from each other, which is having a strain on their relationship.”

“They have no absence from each other to make the heart grow fonder. When they were in L.A. and did the show, it was a reward because that is when they would see each other — but now it’s too much.”

The source adds, “A divorce will not happen anytime soon. They just need a break from hanging out all the time.”

Khloe also disputes rumors of divorce, but confirmed things weren’t so hot–in the bedroom that is–and sex became a baby-making chore.

“Lamar and I definitely want children, but I felt pressured by my mom and my sisters,” she reveals to New! Magazine. ”Kourtney had Mason and was saying, ‘I want him to have someone to grow up with.’ Sex became a job instead of it being fun and easy. Now it’s in God’s hands and I’m very comfortable with that right now.”

Khloe is also embarrassed by how desperate and “sex-crazed” she appears on their reality show this season. “I did cringe a little – it was a little intense,” she said of watching the episodes. “It was during the NBA lockout and Lamar was really depressed, because basketball has always been his passion.”

“I was trying to make the house fun, but you can’t tell that from the episode – people just think I’m sex-crazed!” Khloe says. Khloe also took to her twitter page today to deny the divorce report. FYI, just two days before filing for divorce last year, Khloe’s big sis Kimmie also denied there was anything trouble in her marriage.

In a recent interview, loony lips discussed the differences between reality television and reality. Which is interesting, because I really question if she knows!

Taylor claims, the drama viewers see is completely unscripted, and the emotions and relationships are authentic. “We don’t have writers, so everything is just us interacting with one another,” Taylor explains, speaking to Discover San Diego, “but the real conflict that occurs is all on our own, as much as I’m embarrassed to say that,” she laughs.

“All of our relationship drama is very real. Unfortunately, our lives are not cookie cutter like people expected Beverly Hills to be. So I’m happy in a way that people have been able to see so much of how real these women are and that we really care about each other,” she continues.

“And the fact that we get so emotional is because we are truly invested in each other’s lives and we are a part of each other’s lives.” Taylor is glad the show is able to capture those fun moments, as well. “Any time we are all just having fun together, it makes me so happy to see, because we do have our ups and downs and we’ve all been through a lot together.”

And without her friendships to these ladies, Taylor doesn’t know how she would have survived last season’s dramatic storyline; which she believes was so intense because she was willing to expose more of her life on camera. Taylor claims, season one Taylor was a Taylor hiding from reality and viewers got to see a big difference in her authenticity in season two. “When I watched season one of the show, I really didn’t like me, and I was just a shell of myself,” she reveals.

Taylor blames her late husband, Russell Armstrong, of course. “I was trying to keep so much of my personal life off television that I was — it looked like me in some respects, but the way I was dressing and acting didn’t seem anything like me. And that was a real wake-up call, to see how much of myself I had lost in my relationship. And also seeing my relationship play out on television.”

“Although I knew there were things that were wrong, I could see such a difference between the way, just in our physical space together, how we interacted versus other couples on the show. It brought to light a lot, and I think was one of the biggest catalysts for us going into treatment and therapy in the beginning of last year.”

She calls this season, actual reality and says it was impossible to keep the unflattering and emotional parts of her life away from the cameras. “I was just such a mess this last year, I really was just falling apart and I wasn’t able to keep everything that was going on in my personal life under wraps any longer. I knew too many things were going to come out in the press. And so I really was falling apart, and it was happening as much off camera as it was on,” she describes.

Taylor is not disappointed she was on national TV working through her crisis, if anything she feels it’s a poignant reminder of how far she’s come. “I feel like unfortunately that was an accurate portrayal of the state I was in. And in season one, I was just putting on a facade of who I thought people wanted to see, instead of really letting them into my life. Now that my life is just an open book, it’s a much better place to be.”

Taylor credits the show for giving her the courage to expose the truth behind her marriage, and for allowing her to be a voice for domestic violence, although she is shocked by fan reaction to her storyline. “It is surprising at times, because you don’t know how it’s all going to play out and you don’t know what people are saying about you when you’re not around. So that can be surprising,” she says of watching the shows and then learning of viewers’ reactions.

According to Taylor, the best part of being a Real Housewife is the good moments the cameras have captured; particularly Kennedy‘s opulent birthday parties. Taylor also believes the show has given her a platform to really advocate for domestic violence victims, and she has starting her own foundation to further the cause; The Taylor Armstrong Foundation.

The Taylor Armstrong Foundation is a 501 c3 a not-for-profit, that helps local shelters around the country.

Renee Graziano has had a tough few months. Despite the success of Mob Wives, her family drama has been a nightmare for the reality star. Renee’s ex-husband Junior Pagan (who she decided to reconcile with) was arrested, and shortly after that, so was her father. It soon emerged that Junior had “snitched” to the FBI about Anthony Graziano, after framing him. Renee is speaking out about her family being in shambles and how she is handling the betrayal.

“I felt like someone pulled my heart out of my body,” Renee says of her reaction when she learned of Junior’s November arrest. And the feelings exploded once she learned that “her knight in shining armor” was wearing a wire and had snitched to the DEA about her father. Junior is now reportedly in the witness protection program, while Renee’s father remains in custody for extortion.

Renee believed Junior wanted to reconcile with her to rebuild their family, but now she knows he was using her to get to her father. “I thought Junior came back because he loved me,” she shares with Us Weekly (via their print edition). “Little did I know, it was a big lie.”

Despite her shock over Junior’s arrest, Renee says she knew something was amiss. “Junior and I had been fighting – he was getting calls from an ex-girlfriend – and we hardly spoke over the weekend. Monday he was gone,” she says of how the drama began.

“When I saw an envelope downstairs, my first thought was, Junior left me,” Renee shares. “But his letter said he had turned himself in and hoped I would find somebody better. I was shocked.”

“That night I was on the phone with my cousin, who was at my dad’s house. I heard the doorbell there and somebody said ‘It’s the police!’ They took my dad,” she recalls. “Within hours, my father and my ex-husband were ripped out of my life. I had to protect my son.”

Initially, Renee didn’t believe the rumors that Junior was responsible for her father’s arrest, but then Junior called and personally confirmed that he was the culprit. “He admitted he was the snitch. The f-word must have come out of my mouth a thousand times. It was inconceivable.”

“Honestly Junior ratting out my dad is the last thing in the world I would have expected. He was the son my father never had.”

Renee reveals that her heartbreak soon turned to depression. “I was suicidal,” she confesses. Renee suffered from a nervous breakdown in late January. “I couldn’t breathe, my body was shutting down and my anxiety was insane. I felt like I was going to die. I think I spent six days in the hospital”

However, there was a positive to all the drama – her co-stars came together to support her. “The girls from the show were there for me.” she reveals. “They stepped up and were ready to protect. I love them very much.”

Unfortunately, Renee’s harrowing experience has made it impossible for her to trust again, although she is ready to move on. “I want to believe there are good guys out there,” she says. “But if Junior walked into the room right now, I would make sure I got a clear shotgun right in his face. I set his letter on fire not to long ago, along with his clothes and his pictures.”

Despite her rage, Renee is ready to forgive and move forward.”I actually have found forgiveness,” Renee confirmed, while fighting back tears. “If I don’t forgive, you’ll have hate . . . Forgive, but never forget.”

Taking to Twitter, Renee also let fans know she is recovering and feeling stronger. “I know GOD has big plans 4 me. I made it thru that surgery ordeal. Then this horrible sad family issue … Strong.” Adding, “I swear I get better by the min because of all the love every1 is showering me with.. I think u guys r gonna help me stop CRYING!!! Xoxox”

Viewers watched the drama first-hand on last week’s episode and will see the continuation on next Sunday’s episode.

WOULD YOU FORGIVE JUNIOR? DID HE USE HER TO GET TO HER FATHER? ARE YOU IMPRESSED WITH HOW WELL RENEE IS HOLDING IT TOGETHER?

It’s a whole new world, Snooki is pregnant and Jersey Shore will continue to film with her this year. Since the show is so reliant on drunken plotlines, many of us were surprised to hear Snooki was coming back, but what do ya know? Contracts are a powerful thing.

Show producer Sally Ann Salsano tells Zap2It that everyone needs to calm down, and Snooki can still have fun at the shore. “She’s pregnant, not dead.” She insists that the show won’t work around her pregnancy or hide it, “We’re not ‘Friends’ — we can’t have [Snooki] hide behind a big purse and pretend it didn’t happen. It’s a reality show — you follow what happens in their lives.”

As for the bizarre image of a baby bumped Snooki sipping cranberry juice out of those ubiquitous plastic cups at Karma, Sally Ann insists that this is totally normal. “This can be like her last hurrah. Everyone takes that last vacation before the kids. So this is essentially Snooki’s last summer at the shore without a baby.”

Yes, all pregnant mothers love to go clubbing! It’s so natural. While the producer isn’t batting an eye, Snooki’s castmates do admit to being a bit weirded out. In an interview with People, Vinny Guadagninosays he was surprised by the news, “I had no idea. Actually people would call me, like, ‘Is the show still gonna work?’…And I was like, ‘What are you talking about, she’s not pregnant.’ And then all of the sudden, that whole thing came out and I was like, Oh my God.”

Oh my god is right! That’s the reaction most folks probably had. Vinny does think that “She’ll be a great mom.” and that this was a needed transition in Snooki’s life, adding “I think this is a good wakeup call, so I think she’ll be cool.”

Not content to stay out of the spotlight, cast member and Snooki wannabe Deena Nicole Cortese has been making headlines for having, what appears to be, a brand new face. Deena, who usually has a fuller face, was photographed out and about looking not only thinner but like her face had been molded by a professional. Like all celebrities, Deena denies having any work done, other than a nose job.

She tweeted, “just to let ya know..I have not got any plastic surgery. yes in the past i have had a nose job..and i am not against plastic surgery at all..i have thought about getting it redone to round the tip but haven’t yet..and don’t know if I am.”

She credits her transformation as the result of “eyebrow thinning,” makeup lessons, and a new diet.

[Photos Credit: WENN]

TELL US: DO YOU THINK SNOOKI WILL BE A GOOD MOM? HOW WILL THE SHOW WORK WITH A SOBER, PREGNANT SNOOKS? DO YOU THINK DEENA HAD PLASTIC SURGERY?